Ermita eyed as new defense chief

Presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita is being eyed as the next secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), highly placed sources at Malacañang said yesterday.

Sources told The STAR that President Arroyo sounded out Ermita as her "first choice" to replace Angelo Reyes, who resigned as DND chief last Aug. 30.

Concurrently heading the government panel for the formal peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, Ermita was unavailable for comment regarding his possible new assignment.

Ermita, a former Batangas congressman, had earlier made "acting" DND secretary by Mrs. Arroyo in concurrent capacity as presidential adviser on peace process after former senator Orlando Mercado, a holdover from the Cabinet of deposed President Joseph Estrada in January 2001, resigned from the post.

Ermita was defense secretary for several weeks until Reyes was appointed to the post just two days after his mandatory retirement as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in March 2001.

Other sources, however, claimed the race to become the next defense chief has reportedly narrowed down to retired military generals with former AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva emerging as the strongest contender.

Highly placed sources disclosed a meeting took place at Malacañang late Tuesday where the consensus was on Villanueva.

"As of last Tuesday, it’s Villanueva who is ahead of the pack but anything can happen," one Malacañang official said.

The sources, however, stressed the President has yet to decide on the contenders.

The top picks include Ambassador Roy Cimatu, New Bilidid Prisons (NBP) director Dionisio Santiago, former executive secretary and DND chief Renato de Villa, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and Fortunato Abat, chairman of the Poro Point Development Authority (PPDA) based in San Fernando, La Union.

Biazon, who is with the opposition in the Senate, has already declared he is not interested in the defense post.

Sources claimed "civilians" who are mostly politicians are still under "deep selection process." Chances of them being appointed to the defense portfolio had become remote in the wake of calls from junior and senior military officers not to appoint any member of Congress or any politician.

Some lawmakers are calling on Mrs. Arroyo to appoint a number of their colleagues in Congress to be the next DND chief.

Others like Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. are pushing for the appointment of former President Fidel Ramos, who also served as defense secretary of former President Corazon Aquino from 1987.

De Venecia has said Ramos’ wealth of experience and tested leadership are what the country needs to solidify the Armed Forces and repair the damage caused by the July 27 failed mutiny.

Sources said Malacañang is busy looking for a "non-politician" who will likely get the appointment.

"We would rather had a military general who has an outstanding military career or somebody from academe whose reputation is aboveboard," one Palace official said.

Reyes made an emotional exit and said his resignation is to allow Mrs. Arroyo a free hand to deal with the situation generated by the July 27 mutiny staged by over 300 officers and men who demanded that he step down.

Reyes claimed he became the target of vicious personal attacks by anti-government elements aimed at thwarting the democratic processes in the country, putting to shame and dividing the Armed Forces.

The rogue soldiers accused Reyes, among other officials, of high level corruption. Reyes strongly denied the allegations, but the charges hounded him.

On allegations of amassing unexplained wealth during his tenure, Reyes submitted himself to an investigation before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to disprove allegations.

Following his resignation, the PAGC withdrew the probe citing their lack of jurisdiction over Reyes who is already a private citizen.

In a statement issued yesterday, Reyes urged the PAGC to continue the probe to clear his name and reputation.

"I would highly appreciate it if Chairman Dario Rama (will) continue the investigation. They have started the investigation and they might as well finish it," Reyes said. - With Jaime Laude